Latch mechanism



Dec. 14, 192e. 1,610,318

E. J. W. RAGSDALE LATCH MECHANISM Filed DeG. 28 1923 u FI z INVENTOR.

' 24' 4' 30 5in JIM EAQSDALE aVoir/vnf Patented Dec. I4, 19726,l i'

I UiE 1ST EARLJJ. w. RAGSDALE, or NoRRIsroWN, rnNNsYLvNIaAssIGNoR' ro EDWARD e.

BUDD .MANUFACTURING CCIVIPANY,V F

Y PoRay'rIoN OF'PENNSYLVANIA.

PHILADELPHIA, yPENNSYLV'AVN'IA,Il' COR- l LATCH MnCHANisivrf v Application sied December 2s, 19'23.' serial N esame.VV`

My invention relates to improvements in f latch mechanism and has to do, more particularly, with latch mechanism of thetype employlng a swinging latch bolt,` such as is 5 used iny the doorsof automobile bodies,' lafndV iin similar situations.

The' principal object ofniy `invention isA to provide a latch construction which is simple in. construction, is" composed of few I0 parts, is economical to construct, is easy to assemble and apply, and'is'retlicient in use. Al further object of my invention is to .provide a latch mechanism inf which the same spring is employed to projectthe l5 swinging bolt and also to restore the rollback to `normal position after it has 'been moved therefrom. l 1 'i *A further object of1m`yinvention`is to provide a latch mechanism of typereierred to having animproved means for mounting the swinging latch bolt,v 'whereby the bolt and the operating mechanism therefor may be assembled as a unit on a retainingmember and the unit assembly mounted on lthe V /base plate very'quickly and conveniently.` V A Jfurther object of my invention 1s to provide a latch mechanism, including a" swinging bolt and a roll-back for 'actuating' i said bolt, having an improved andsimplithe bolt,

Further objects, and objects relati'1-igr'to details and economies ofconstructionv and operation, will definitely appear fromv the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means set forth mechanism, and

fat the endsfof the section lines."

from its normal position.; Y

fiedconnection betweenithe roll-back and l v Y.

' f Various specific arrangements maybe de'- Fig-4 is another view of the latchmediav nism, in top plan," with theiretaining plate bolt. In the drawing, the 'same'` vreference numerals referto the same parts throughout Ythe several views, andthe sectional view is V taken looking in the direction of i the arrows l "lllois In carrying out myinvention in one prac?4k ticalembodiment thereof, I propose to mount v.the latchbolt upon a' retaining Ymeniber, together/'with themeansemployed to actuate said bolt, thereby effecting a unit. Vassembly of the bolt and its actuating means wherein the parts may be quickly v"and 'easily` assembl'edready for mounting as a-unit on a base plateforfapplication to door. I

also propose .toconnect the latcli bolt and the roll-,back ofthe latch mechanism bya very simple butefficient connection whereby when -the roll-back is rotated in either direction from its `normal position, the latch n bolt is swungjinto itslfretracted positionf; I` also'. propo-se, ini accordance with myfinvention, to employ the same spring tension device which normally tends vto t project Y the ments of' thewroll-bacliin either direction vised',` for carrying out; these generalobjects I do notdesire to be limited orA restricted,

in the broadest scope of my invention, to l in the ollowing specification.V My inven-` the exact details and arrangements shown.

vlatch* bolt, to also resist the rotation move- -In the particular embodiment of I`ny in-V yvention,l asI sho,wn` in the drawing, I employ' a retaining'member, 13, upon which the swinging latch bolt, 23, mounted. "In

the illustration arrangement shown,l the re ytaining member is vprovidedwitharms, or` portions, 21, spaced apart `from eachother and. extending forwardly to VVform supports for the pivot pin, '22, ofA the latch bolt. The Y n side wallofthe retainerrme'mber, 13, Yis

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewthrou'gh said" latch mechanism, taken on the line 2f2 ofi :formed with a bearing'l whichis journaled `*one end of thev hub, 3l, of the roll-back, the t f f arms',` 34,*oftherollback ,eXteIidngQnop- Fig. 3f is atop plan l,view of theV latchnaar@.'.airectionsyfrom eachpthersffqm the loo los. I

hub3l. Suitable connections intermediate''v .te Hala-beanie. .the@een@eferve- ,to

Cil"

lllso, as will` be reafllly seen, this laiteh, bolt retraoting eonneeton is retained ,in

retract thelatch bolt from its normally projected position when the roll-back is rotatively actuated in either direction.v The means shown for this purpose in the ilhistration elmbodimentot my invention as shown, consists of a rod or wire having a loop formation, the laterally bent free ends 27 of which are disposed, respectively, to

`project in opposite direction through the side walls, 25, of the latch' bolt into the interior oft said latch bolt.l 4From the. laterallyVv bent end portions, 27, of thls. wire,

or 1nd,extend the parallel leg portions, 26.

These leg lportions are laterally 'olf-set or bent toclorln shoulders indicated at 27a, which' shoulders engage behind the rearvertical walls of the roll-back, so that when the rollback is rotativelymoved in either direction, one or the other of the shoulders,

will be shifted in. a dire@tion to' cause a pull to be exerted-on the' latch bolt to draw the. latter into its 4retracted position. This connection intermediate the roll-bask and thelatch bolt may be-guided in its shifting moven'ient in" many different ways.V A simple arrangement is shown wherein, rearwardly voi' the-shouldeia2li,v the .side portions of the' Wiieorrol are slightly converged towards each other, aS,A indicated at 28, andl thence rearwardly are formed into the loop portion, 30, the legs; of which pass n tl'lrofugh notches. formed inthe edges of the f rear wall, le, ofthe retainer member., i3. 'By' this, eonletl'u@tion.i and' arrangement, a

very simple retraotin'gA Connection is provided intermediate the' ,rollback ancl- `latch bolt, consist-ine; of. e singlefbent Wire or rod.

propel yposition and isf guided in a; very Souple. and .etllelent manner.,

The .latch bolt y1s normally maintained' l under yielding tension in projected position', and,y in accordance with my invention, I propose to employ the same tension means which yieldingly vmaintains th-e'latch.boltV in' projected position to also impose a yielding tension on the yroll-back to normally retain it 1n normal position.Y This result may be accomplished in varions ways.` A slmplearrangement is. Shown wherein l employ Spr'iilgllle enfleo Vwhich are coiled about the Vpivot pin, 22.', ofthe latch bolt,

,es indicated M1365, vthe extremities, 37 of thel coils, 36,'. extending into the interior oi` the vlatchbolt and engagingY behind the ends, 27, 0,1 the bolt retracting members, 26, asVV clearly shown in: Fig. The portions of; the Spring which extend rearwardly from the. oeils, 36,;fare blgougbtnto parallel* 1'eletto-i1 as Shown $6,383 anelgtben 'are formed into' af; loop. portofftll which is arranged o vto seat e greofvei, termed nztbeforward'.v surlacef'oi the roll-'back arms,y 34.

With this construction and arrangement, it

usual manner. latch bolt is, tormed on an arc which is con-Y will be readily seen that when the parts occupy their normal position, the latch bolt is yieldingly pressed into its projected position while at the same time .the roll-back is yieldingly maintained in its "normal or neutral position, the same springpertorming this double function. seen" that when the roll-back is rotatively actuated in either direction from its normal position to retract the latch bo-lt, such rotative actuation is against the tension oi the sprrrng,y since it effects a compression Votv the loop portion of the spring, `which tension is exerted to'restor-e the roll-bach to its normal or neutral position Also itV will be is against -the tension et the extremities, 37, of the Spring acting upon, the bent ends, 2,7, of the bolt-1 ietra' ct'ing connections The nach bon and as) ren-acting and tee-k tical Way wherein the edge, 15, of the rear wall, 14, ofI the retainer, r13., is inserted through aslot in the base plate and then upset as indicated at 16, whilel the forward extremities, 19, or" the arms, 21, extend through slots, 20, :termed in the rontedge -flange,

1,1', of the base plate, i It desired, the'side edgeV of the arms, 21, may also be provid-cd withprojecting portions, 17, which `litinto slots,v 18, in the base plate, 10.y

rl`he base plate, 10, is formed with the edge flange, 11, to facilitate theapplication and The mounting oi the It will also be t V.so seen that as 'the latch `bolt lis retractedrit` llO mounting ofthe latch mechanism upon the i door, and, il'. desired, the extreme edge Yot' the fiange, 11 may also be turned laterally from said flange, as indicated at 12, to afford a means forj sup/porting the base plate in position on the door. Theflange, l1, of the base 'I plate isV formed with an opening through which the latch bolt works in the The end wall, 21h-oi the Centric with the axis of the `pivot pin, 22, aboutl whichthe latchbolt swings., Y

The' base plate.,-10, is. formed witl'iajournal bearing to receive the journal portion, l

32, of the roll-back hub, 31. i

The roll-back maybe actuated in any suitable or well known manner, as for instance,

bythe spindle, d1, and handle, 42, therefor. l

It will be observed that l have simpliied the' construction of the latch mechanism very ..materially, andvreducedy thenuniber offparts. -r

y It willfbe noticed,particularly that'in place tween the latch bolt and Vthe roll-.back;1which Y has very little Ysurface fric-tional"contact with other parts,1so that the vfrictionA of mov- I 'of -theftwo'fsjprings yci'istomarly used with latches ofthis constructiomfI-have devised a. single 'spring which Jloesfthe work'of both vvof th'efsprings's formerly vkused; VIt will alsoy .be *noti-ced, :that Il i `have I provided a :very

simple andV cheapv .operating connection'fi be.

ing parts isfgreatly reduced, and the weight Having thus described; my invention, whaty Y `Iclaim'as new andfuseful and desirepto vse`V` rcure by Letters Patentiis l t ,Y ;.;1.1Alatch mechanism comprising a swing- "ing `latch boltya roll-"back, .resilient means directly engaged with said latch bolt andsaid f roll-back to projectthe formerand to main- :tain the latter inV its normaler Ineutral posi# ign,

' tion and-means'tor rotating said rollfbaclrin l either direction tof-retract,.said:latch boltv A 1 pivot, `and having a; loop'portion iengaging the latch boltto'project'y the same, andi-earwardly extending loops 'engaging' thel for- ,-wardfface lot thev roll-back 'toy .restore the sametonormalposition. I i f,y 9. 1A latch mechanismlcomprising a swingagainst the resistance 'ofsaid Vresilientnreans.

1j 2. A latch mechanism comprising a, swing- "ng latch'bolt, resilient 'means' directly .en`. L gaging. said latch bolt andV adaptedV to project f a the sametfs'a-id meansb'eing provided with an enlarged lloop portioinf a rolli-ba'ck .i maintained 1in neutral position thronghdir-ect enresilient meansfand' means interconnecting said' latchbolt' and.=said roll-back" whereby upon rotation of the latter. `inrvfeitherfdiurectionthc former isretractedq Y I 3; A; latchy mechanism lfcomp-iising fa .swinging -latch bolt', af Vroll-back,v jresilient` means directly engaging `said latch bolt at the free ends thereof7 'thewportioiiyof said V*resilient"means:,interiii-ediate the free ends roll-backto its normal: or-neutral position.;-

' 4., A latch mechanism*comprisingfa swinging latch holt, Ya roll-back, resilient .means directly engagingsaid latch 4bolt at -the `free endslthereof, the .portion of Ys'a-idresilient jginean's. intermediate theyi'reeY ends 4vheilig in vsliding engagement` with. :said:V rollflaclfk'v V'whereby upon rotation ofsaidrollfback in either direction the lgatch` bolt isfretracted ce, i' against theresistanceof said-resilientmeana 5 while at 'the same timev saidmesilientmeans if :for neutralpositiontendsfto restore;thexroll-back to its'qriormahk latchmechanism comprisinga swinging latch v vbolt, vapivot pin: on y:whichfsaid pin,fand -havingfa 'loop engaging said? latch bolt to project the samej` latch-'bolt ismounted, ag-roll-back, connec'- Y ftions between{saidroll'eback andsaid bolt,

-meansj for rotating saidf roll-back, anda Y `spring coiled around 'said pivotpin and having one portion acting'on the latch bolt" @toprojectthe'samd and another portion act- ,ing onsaid rollbackl to-restore it to normal position. t e i iff@ 6. Alatchmechanismcomprisingaswingging' latch .boltgapivotpin on which vsaid A la'tchgbolt isy mounted,V av-roll-back, `connecftions between said rollback and said :latch '.-bolt, fandaspriiigcOiled around said pivot Y 8o r V'ffA Vlatchfniechanisin comprising a swing f ing lat'c'hvbolnlapivot onfwhich said latch Aboltis mounted,aroll-back, connections-bc! :tween said roll-back andA said latch boltfand a spring coiled around the latch bolt pivot,

andahaving loops extending rearwardlyvr and` -4 engaging tlie orwardedge of the roll-back to restore-the same to normal position.

.258. A latch mechanism comprising a swing# latch:` bolt` is'. mounted, f a roll-back, 'f connecno l:inglilatcli bolt, Aa-pi'votpinon which said 1 tions`between saidroll-backand saidy latch bolt, a` springfcoiled *around said]V latch bolt' inglatch bolt; a roll-back, and connectionsV between :saidflatch-bolt `and roll-back 'coin- .-'prisiiigya wire bent: to; formrla yoke and j'having shoulders `formed* therein in position. V

:tobe engaged `by the arms of said roll-back.

- :"1'0. Aflatchv Vmechanism comprising a i f swinging latch bolt,fa.rollback, and eonnec- Vtionsbetween Ysaidf.roll-back ,and K4latch`r bolt;V V

ycomprising'a wire` bent to forma yoke yeinbracni'g vsaid roll'iback"andhav'ing its Viterward,y ends bentf laterally into engagement withdthe A'eide ivallsoffthe: latch bolt,lsaid j 7 yoke being bent to'orinshoulders engageable by the arms of said rollback.

t ll, n A latchv mechanism `comprising a base plate,l having a flangel at one Vedge thereof provided `with an opening for .the bolt, a swinging latch bolt, a pivotfon whichk said. latch ",-bolt isl mounted, a rollls'back,y and a f l"spring coiled around the pivot and provided izo with a loop engagingsaid latch bolt to pro-r `ject" the same, and `having rearwardly-e tending loops? engaging the forwardl :face of] the ,roll-back to restore 'the same to normal v T latchmechanism comprising a base plate,v a swingingjlatch bolt,farollbaclL and g operating' -coi'inectionsv4 between saidzflatch bolt and roll-'back comprising a wire bent to form a yoke, having its forward ends con- .Y nected toV theV sides of said latch bolt, its

.3 VonV the baseA plate, and its intermediate por-V rear vend formed'into a loop slidablygu'ided tion formed intoY shoulders engageable iby the arms of said roll-back.

13.A A latch mechanism comprisin'g'a-base plate, a lswinging latch bolt, al roll-hack l journaled on said 'base plate, andsconne'c.-

tionsrbetween said rollbaok and latch boltl wire bent to form a yoke, havcomprising a ing its forward ends bent laterally and eX- tending through holes 1n the side walls -of 13 said latch bolt, the intermediate portions of ber mounted on said base'p-latein which the the legs of said yoke 'being bent kto forln shoulders forengagementwith the armsof.V

roll-.back'is also journaled, said retaining vmember having an end wall extending into and connected with saidbase plate,and conv-- nections between said bolt and roll-backcomprising a wire benttoform a yoke, `having its forwardends connected with the side walls of said latch bolt,` the intermediate portions of the legs` of said yoke bent vto form` shoulders engageable by the arms of said rollback,.an`d the' rear portion of said jl'yoke being slidablyy mounted on the base Y plateand guided by the end wall on said `retainin'g'member. l5. A latch mechanism comprising-a base plate, a` swinging latch bolt, 'afrotatabl'e ro'llflanges engagingthe base plate and supportback, operating connections vbetween `said roll-back and vlatch bolt, comprlsing a' wire bent to form a yokeand havingt-he ends of n the legs of' said yoke connected to the side walls of said latch "bolt, the, intermediate Y portions of said legs bent to form shoulders engageable by said roll+back, and the'rear base plate, and a spring having a' portion acting on the latch vbolt to project the same,

face of said roll-,back to restore it to normal position.

i6'.V A latch mechanism comprising abase Y plate, va swinging latchbolt, a roll-back4 jourrnaled on said base plate,operating connections between said latch'bolt and roll=back consisting of a wire' ben'ttofo'rm av` yoke,"the

Y for-ward ends of the legsof said yoke being bentlaterally and extending through holes in the side walls of said latch bolt, the' intermediate'portions kof said legs being 'bent to form shoulders engageable by said roll-back, vand a: spring having aloop portione'ngag- .f ing the forward ends of said yoke adjacent 5 the side walls of the bolt, and another loop 'sitionl portion of said loop slidably guidedy ony said portion engagingthe forward face'of the roll-back to restore it to normal position.

' .17. A latch.mechanism'comprising`v` a base plate, a pivotpinmounted thereon, a swmgniglatch bolt mountedxon said pivot pin, a roll-back, operating connections between said latchbolt and rollback-comprising a Awire bent te form; a yoke and yhaving its able by the. Aarms of Said'roll-back, and a "spring coiled around the pivot and having a loop engaging the laterally-turned ends of forward face of said roll-backto restore it to, normal position. g ,Y

' .18. A latchme'chanism comprising a bolt,V

a roll-back, operating connections between said bolt Vand said roll-back, said roll-back being provided with a groove. in the forward face thereof, and a spring having a portion Ypositioned in said groove and engaging said roll-:back to restore the sameto normal po- 19. A latch.V mechanism comprising Swingin latchv bolt, a roll-backhaving Va lgroove 1n the forward edge thereof, operating connections between said bolt and saidV roll-back, and a `single'spring engaging-said latch bolt to project the same, and engaging in the grooved forward edge of said rollback. to restore the latter to normal position.

V20. A'latch mechanism comprising a base plate, having a 'flange' yatrone edge vthereof provided with ai bolt opening therein, a retainingiplateV provided with 'flangesat the Y 'said yoke, andanother Vloop engaging the sides and rear ends thereof, the edges of said carried by the forward ends of said arms, ,a latch bolt working in said bolt openingY 4and journaledon said pivot pin, a roll-back journaled in said base plate and said rellO taining plate, connections between said bolt f l -vand said roll-back, and a spring coiled on l and another portion acting on the forward said pivot pin and engaging the bolt to project` the same andthe roll-.back to restore the latter to normal position.

21. A latch` mechanism comprising l'a swinging latch bolt, a roll-back, and connections between said latch'bolt and said roll=back comprising a wire bent vto form a shoulder' adapted to be engaged byl said roll- *i i back to retract the VlatchA bolt.

22. A' latch mechanism comprising a swinginglatch bolt, a roll-back having arms extending? laterally from ythe sidesl thereof i l and connections between'said latch bolt-and roll-backV comprising a' single wire adapted Vto be engaged by either of the arms of the roll-back whereby'to retract the latch'bolt i 17,610,313v ,d

rection;

23. A latch mechaiiism comprisinzgf1a'V swinvinof latchv bolt, a ivot in on'which ze n P P said latch bolt ie mounted', a roll-back, and a single spring having the freev end portions.

thereof 4'coiled varound said'pivot pin and -livingv its intermediate portion bowed `for Y' i' symmetrical dispoeition with respectl to Said Vroll-backwhereby upon displacement of said 10 l roll-backv in either directionl said spring tends to restoreythe Same to normal position.

In testimony whereof, I amr:v my signature;

' SEARLJ RAGSDALE. 

